US drops case against Russian scientist jailed over frog embryos

A US court closed the case against Harvard biologist Kseniia Petrova, held after she tried to bring frog embryos into the country. She is now seeking asylum.

10 Nov 2026, 08:411 min read

A researcher in a laboratory examining frog embryos in a petri dish under a microscope. — Image: Meduza

Kseniia Petrova's case is over. On 4 November, a US court dropped the smuggling case against the Russian biologist after prosecutors withdrew their charges, citing "an assessment of the office's priorities and resources".

Quick recap: Petrova, a researcher at Harvard Medical School, was detained in February 2025 as she returned to the US from a work trip to France. She was accused of trying to bring frog embryos into the country for research. Her visa was cancelled, she was indicted for smuggling in May 2025 and she was placed in a federal prison.

The case caused a big outcry, and the scientific community protested loudly.

Looking back, Petrova says she is stunned by the support. "Congressmen and Nobel laureates stood up for me. Of course, I don't deserve that at all," she says.

She is now asking the United States for political asylum.

#kseniia petrova#harvard#frog embryos#asylum#united states

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